Oyster Festival

 

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend the annual 

Oyster Festival in Urbanna, VA.

It's been many many years since I've been to an Oyster Festival.

These dogs were probably one of the coolest things I saw.

We toured some boats including the Godspeed

(pictured above)

from Jamestown.

The Brat Child built a boat and sailed it in the "pond"

There were unique recycling opportunities

to help Save the Bay

(and oysters)

And of course a parade with Shriners driving smaller than normal vehicles

And marching bands.

Overall it was a nice afternoon

spent in a quaint town

on what was probably one of the last warmish days of the fall.

(And I intend to head back to Urbanna next year when it isn't packed with people)

Heritage Day 2012

As usual, Deltaville's Heritage Day hosted several vendors.

I posted this just for you CBW

The Brat Child and Midge ready for the parade

The Brat Child sporting his pirate face paint

 There were the grand marshals and the 50 odd emergency vehicles

 And then there was the Delorean

 And yes, I did yell, "Where's the Flux Capacitor?!"

To which Midge responded, "Geez, Mom, geek much?"

 This year was different in that there weren't 2,000 Shriners.  There were only 7.

The horse was a new and welcome addition

There weren't the usual number of crowds most likely because if the record heat and/or the storm that went through the night before. 

The day was capped off with a Deltaville Deltas ball game and fireworks.

But that's a story for another post.

Heritage Day Part One

Every 4th of July weekend, Deltaville celebrates Heritage Day on the Saturday immediately before the 4th. 

There are vendors

 Bouncy kid things that have a magnetic pull with the Brat Child

Fire trucks.  Very LOUD fire trucks

Clowns

A couple of Uncle Sams

 A tractor

And several thousand Shriners on every kind of small vehicle imaginable

Heritage Day

July 3, 2010, Deltaville celebrated is 23rd annual Heritage Day.  Back 23 years ago, when I was 11 and they started these Heritage Day celebrations, I thought it was stupid.  Celebrate Independence Day on the Day of Independence, not some celebration on the Saturday before July 4th.  Today, I still think it's ridiculous, sort of like calling Christmas "Winter Holiday".  Still, it's a lot of fun with craft and food vendors set up mext to the tennis courts, the local Rescue Squad out with their Rescue Squad Unit, Crab Races, a Pet Parade, a Children's Parade and a regular parade.

Ethan in the Rescue Squad Ambulance, hopefully not a sign of things to come.

This year the parade featured about 500 fire engines, 3,000 Shriners, 10 vintage cars, 10 pretty girls and a John Deere Tracor.  That was it.  I think every Shriner in the Commonwealth of Virginia from Richmond was there driving every form of small motorized vehicle.  Though I didn't see any pink Barbie Jeeps. 

 

The best part of the day was taking in a Deltaville Deltas game at the Deltaville ballpark with fellow blogger and Mathews resident Chesapeake Bay Woman and her friend. After the game (and some wine) I walked back to the family picnic to take in the evening's fireworks. We were so close the ash and embers rained down on us.

 Nothing like major explosives professional fireworks to round out a great day.